Rahul Gandhi Accuses PM Modi of Buckling Under US Pressure in Trade Deal
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, made serious allegations on Tuesday, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has buckled under pressure from the United States to finalize a trade agreement. Gandhi asserted that this move has effectively sold out the hard work and sacrifices of Indian farmers.
Unprecedented Parliamentary Silence
Addressing the media in the Parliament House complex, Gandhi highlighted what he called a historic first. He stated that for the first time in parliamentary history, the Leader of Opposition was not permitted to speak during the discussion on the President's address. This occurred after he insisted on referencing an article citing former Army chief MM Naravane's unpublished memoir, leading to his speech being disallowed.
Gandhi emphasized the timing of the trade deal, questioning why an agreement that had been stalled for approximately four months was suddenly finalized overnight. We need to understand why a trade deal stuck for about four months was suddenly finalised last evening, he remarked, pointing to what he described as huge pressure on Prime Minister Modi.
Allegations of Compromise and National Betrayal
The Congress leader did not mince words, alleging that PM Modi has been compromised and that through the India-US trade deal, the hard work, blood, and sweat of Indian farmers have been sold out. He extended this accusation to the entire nation, claiming that the entire country had been sold out.
In his statements, Gandhi linked the pressure to other factors, including the Epstein Files, suggesting that unreleased information from these files adds to the pressure on the Prime Minister. There is pressure due to that as well. These are the two pressure points. The country should understand this, he urged, framing the situation as a critical issue for public awareness.
Parliamentary Turmoil and Suspensions
The allegations came against a backdrop of significant parliamentary disruption. Earlier in the day, the Lok Sabha faced repeated adjournments due to protests and sloganeering by opposition members over the newly announced India-US trade deal. This turmoil resulted in the suspension of at least eight Congress Members of Parliament for what was termed as unruly behaviour, further escalating tensions within the House.
As of now, there has been no immediate reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the government in response to Gandhi's allegations. The situation underscores the deepening political divide over international trade agreements and their perceived impact on domestic sectors like agriculture.
